Friday, 17 June 2011

STILA Backstage Palette: Review, Photo, Swatches


This review is for something I've had and played with for a few months already.
I got this tiny palette for a really good deal on eBay after reading the rave about it. I must say this product totally blew me away!

What you get is a tiny cardboard package that looks kind of like an organizer. It is very compact and I guess it would be ideal to just toss it in a pocket bag. It has a magnet that keeps it closed and no mirror inside, just an inspirational quote by a well-known make-up artist. You get six full-sized eyeshadows totalling 11 grams, which is not a bad amount for the money. 



Now, down to the product itself. The eyeshadows have amazing pigmentation and there’s a lovely balance between shimmery and satiny finishes (no matte shades though). What really gives full score for me however, is the colours that Stila decided to put inside this palette.
My attempt at describing the shades, left to right, top to bottom:
-       Chiffon: soft light peachy pink (shimmery)
-       Flamingo: medium fuchsia (satiny)
-       Pacific: medium blue (satiny)
-       Luster: golden mauvy brown (satiny)
-       Poetic: dusty pinkish taupe (shimmery)
-       Coal: deep teal (shimmery)

I really think that these colours are absolutely great all together in a palette. The ones on the bottom row are especially unique and in all likelihood my favourites. They are all very wearable in a variety of combinations.
This palette has the perfect balance between brights and neutrals, warm and cool colours, so I can see this working for either daytime and nighttime looks and on a variety of complexions. There is no complimentary accessory inside, no mirror or brush whatsoever, but what really counts is that this palette is truly adorable! Swatches below:

L-R: Chiffon, Flaming, Pacific, Luster, Poetic, Coal



Tried and tested, they do not crease (I do wear an eyeshadow primer though) and fallout is not a big deal either.

Have you tried this Stila palette yet? Are you loving it or leaving it? Say it in the comments!



Dark lady FOTD

I had SO much fun doing this FOTD (which I am not wearing to go out btw) but I'm not quite sure how it turned out.. I kept it minimal on the eyes and only applied highlighter on my cheekbones.

I visited my nearest Inglot store yesterday so I wanted to play with this vampy lip paint I bought.

Sorry if I look silly in the pics but I just couldn't get myself to smile with this m/u!! =)




Products

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
Clinique Redness Solutions Pressed Powder
Inglot e/s 453 (pearly white) (cheekbone highlight)

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
Inglot e/s 390matte (crease), 341matte (lid), 453pearl (browbone)
Estee Lauder Double Wear pencil liner in Onyx (upper waterline)
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Ardell Lashes 101Demi

LIPS
Diego dalla Palma Eye Pencil 09 (dark purple-plum)
Inglot AMC Lip Paint n.69 (looks almost black IRL)

Tuesday, 14 June 2011

FOTD: neutral eyes + red lips!

I LOVE MAC Lady Danger. It's so bright, warm, and RED! 



  Product breakdown 
FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
NYX Powder Blushes in Taupe (contour), Raisin (cheeks)
Clinique Redness Solutions Pressed Powder

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre PP
MAC e/s Blanc type (entire eye area), Kid (transition-blending)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Chocolate (crease)
UD Virgin (highlight)
NYX black/brown e/s (from the Caribbean I dream of st. John palette) (liner)
Estee Lauder Double Wear pencil liner in Onyx (waterline)
Clinique High Impact Mascara
Ardell Accent Lashes 311

LIPS
MAC l/s in Lady Danger

Monday, 13 June 2011

FOTD: cool brights - blue&pink

Ladies&gents!
Today I wanted to play with some cool-toned brights working by colour blocks. I have this amazing metallic electric blue eyeshadow (see products below) which feels a bit intimidating given my eye colour and skintone... I can never get true blue to work with my complexion. I figured I might try using it as an eyeliner! What do you think?

I think it's a pretty colour but it makes my eyes look greyish/greenish :/



Product breakdown 
FACE
MUFE HD Foundation 117
Clinique line smoothing concealer 03
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale pink
NYX powder blush in Taupe (contour)
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

EYES
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
MAC e/s Kid (crease), Blanc Type (browbone)
Estee Lauder Double Wear pencil liner in Onyx (waterline)
Bobbi Brown Gel liner in Denim Ink
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in 1492 (the blue colour)
Clinique High Impact mascara

LIPS
NYX Slim Lip Liner in Rose
MAC lipstick in Speed Dial

Sunday, 12 June 2011

FOTD: bronzey eyes with Urban Decay Naked Palette

Hey! Today I did a basic bronzey eye with Urban Decay Smog and Darkhorse eyeshadows. I think this was the first time I've ever used Smog, and I've had the palette for a few months, how crazy is that.

I used MAC Margin as a blush, which you can see in pic3. I can never stress enough how much I love this blush, it's a frosty bronzey colour with a reddish tone to it, and it works amazingly on fair complexions as well (I'm NC15). It gives an instant sunkissed glow and doubles as a highlighter because of the frostiness in it. Check it out.
 
 Product breakdown 
FACE
OCC skin primer
MUFE HD foundation 117
Clinique line smoothing concealer 03-moderately fair
EL Bronze Goddess soft matte bronzer
MAC Margin

EYES
TFSI
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt (I wanted to use Iced Mocha but ended up with this in my hands, oh well)
UD Smog (lid), Darkhorse (crease, outer corner, lower lashine)
MAC e/s Blanc Type (highlight)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s Creme d'Nude (transition)
MAC clear brow set
The Makeup Store pencil liner in Taupe (to fill in beauty mark)
EL Double wear eye pencil in Onyx
EL Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Clinique High impact mascara

LIPS
MAC lipliner in Subculture
OCC lip tar in Hush

hope you enjoy it!! xx

Saturday, 11 June 2011

May Photoshoot #6: Amanda


PRODUCT BREAKDOWN

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MAC Face&Body foundation in C3
Ben Nye Total Cover-All Wheel Sk-100
KIKO Natural Concealer n. 03 mixed with MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe
MAC Blush in Melba
Sue Moxley Shimmerbrick in Light
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

EYES
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
Make Up For Ever Diamond e/s 311
KIKO e/s 121
KIKO Eyeshadow Stick n. 20
NYX black e/s
MAC e/s Scene, Copperplate, Blanc Type
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Avon Supershock Gel Liner in black
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme mascara
Alcone Paramount lashes n.335

LIPS
NYX Slim Lip Liner in Mauve
NYX lip palette mauve purple lipstick

Photographer: Luca Cadamuro

FOTD: winged liner + bright lips!

This is possibly one of my favourite make-ups ever: a thick and defined winged liner + bright lipstick. It doesn't really need any explanation!!



Products

FACE
OCC Skin Primer 
MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear concealer NC15
Clinique Redness Solutions pressed powder
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe (contour)
MUFE HD Cream Blush in Nip Slip

EYES
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Creme d'Nude (lid), Showstopper (crease)
UD Sin (browbone)
NYX Black e/s
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Clinique High Impact Mascara
MAC Eye Brows in Fling (brows)
Ardell accent false lashes 311

LIPS
Rimmel Moisture Renew l/s in 610 Spring Bouquet